Random Thoughts Thursday 41

By , May 30, 2013 6:23 am
  • Guys. Technology is amazing. I downloaded some music on iTunes last week. I was telling Steven how I hadn’t had the chance to put it on my phone yet and OMG the next day… it miraculously found its way to my phone!!!
  • Kimberly’s post Runners should love underpants cracked me the eff up. Check out her list of the five reasons runners should wear underwear. I am not going to ask if you do or not. Or tell you if I do. But you can see my response on her blog. Muah ha ha.
  • 10 days until the half Ironman relay! Is my team ready? I hope so! Hee hee. 
  • This article from The Wall Street Journal is interesting – The Decline of Eye Contact (pdf here). It’s basically saying how people are making much less eye contact than they used to, because they are so distracted by mobile technology, and also, because many people work from home and are less engaged (and not used to making eye contact when they are around others). The article talks about the right amount of eye contact (not too much, not too little) and how beneficial it can be (in Western culture, anyway). Are you comfortable making eye contact with others?

eyecontactmodel

Eye Contact Model

  • It’s bugging me that I probably won’t make it to 100 miles run this month. Somewhat, because I thought it would be cool to run at least 100 miles each month this year, but mostly, because when I look at my monthly mileage it reminds me that I’ve not been making the time the last two months to do something that makes me feel happy and keeps me healthy. (To put things in to perspective, I have run almost as many miles, in these 5 months, as I did in all of 2010. So I know I am making progress. I also just know that I am not running as much as I would like to to make me feel good.)

milesrun2013

Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: 40, 39, 38, XXXVII, XXXVI, XXXV, XXXIV, XXXIII, XXXII, XXXI, XXX, XXIX, XVIII, XXVII, XXVI, XXV, XXIV, XXIII, XXII, XXI, XX, XIX, XVIII, XVII, XVI, XV, XIV, XIII, XII, XI, X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.

27 Responses to “Random Thoughts Thursday 41”

  1. Kandi says:

    I am really good at eye contact (though one might argue it’s too much). I took a communication class for work and we discussed eye contact and partnered up to work on it. The guy I was partnered with told me my eye contact was intense and asked me if I was always like that. I told him eye contact didn’t make me uncomfortable. ha! I work with a few people who don’t make much eye contact (all white guys around my age, so likely not a cultural thing) and I always wonder if it makes them uncomfortable. Granted, a lot of people in my line of work are introverts. I wonder if that makes a difference?
    My May mileage is pathetic… Mostly because I went on vacation for half the month and didn’t run at all. I’m not too worried about it though.
    Now I’m going to read about why I should wear underpants…

    • kilax says:

      Did you read the article? It gives a specific amount for how long to make eye contact to seem confident, but not overly creepy. LOL! Are we supposed to count off the seconds in our head?

  2. Declan says:

    I’m a big fan of eye contact! At least while running and the crowd isn’t too heavy. Gotta get the contact established and wave so it doesn’t look like a mistake! its a bit harder around the city as most people won’t look at you.

    Hilarious post about underwear and running! Almost spilled my coffee reading about the butt cheek clapping, is this a rap video or a running blog?! haha great response by you! As a guy, its easy once the weather warms up, running shorts come with those swimming trunks type liners! And who wears cotton running?! YIKES!

    And maybe I’m reading your chart wrong, but it seems last month is broke 150 miles! or is that including something else? Either way, you are doing great!!

    • kilax says:

      The chart is all running miles. And the last month was over 150. Which makes me feel bad, as it was 70+ miles less than the month before it, and will probably be 60 miles more than this month! 😉

      It always weirds me out when people don’t make eye contact and say hello in the city!

  3. EmilyJ says:

    I love technology, love undies, and also love running! Don’t beat yourself up! Just try to make more time next month if that will make you happy. Morning runs!! 😉

  4. Anne says:

    I’ve never wondered IF anyone is wearing underwear when running, but I have wondered if there’s some kind of sport underwear for ladies like they make for men. I haven’t been able to find anything, so cotton seems to be the only option, which is not ideal (but that said, if I’m not wearing the one pair of lined shorts I own, I can’t go without).

    That’s interesting about eye contact! I can definitely see how phones make it less common (especially among you 20-somethings!), but I wouldn’t have thought of working remotely contributing to that. Do we lose basic social skills by not being in an office all the time? Because my home officemates insist on eye contact (um, mostly when I’m eating). I laughed at the article talking about people calling into meetings down the hall from each other, that’s SO my office! I’ve worked with some people in my building for several years and we’ve never met because no one wants to take the time, and obviously conference calling allows you to multi-task. Which gets back to the idea of constantly being on your phone while having a conversation with someone.

    • kilax says:

      I think I may have seen sport underwear in an old issue of RW I paid no attn though, since I don’t use them.

      Office culture is getting so weird. People just want to stay by their computers all the time. Is anyone ever paying 100% attn?!

      • Anne says:

        Just in case we didn’t all know your position on underwear 🙂

        Honestly, I have a really hard time concentrating when I’m talking on the phone with someone, because it’s really easy for me to get distracted, multi-task and stop paying attention. So it would really behoove people to meet with me in person!

  5. I make a point to make eye contact with people in most situations. I have been noticing how attached I am to my phone these days and have been considering putting some restrictions on my phone usage. I really don’t need to check all my social media and email 50 thousand times per day. Especially since I’m a nanny and there is no pressing work information coming from those places for me.

    • kilax says:

      It’s so easy to get in to the habit of checking it all the time! I have been trying to check it less, too.

  6. Eye contact is important to me, especially when I meet people for the first time. Although sometimes I’ll catch myself looking over someone’s shoulder while talking to them… at least I’m aware enough that I can catch it and fix it!

    Bummer about not getting in as much running but have you been out in the humidity the past few days. Ugh. I’d trade a 30 degree day for 80% humidity any day. Also, are you spending more time on your bike and doing other things you enjoy? I think it’s natural to have a few months every year of lower mileage so long as you’re replacing the running (which makes you feel good) with other things that make you feel good!

    • kilax says:

      Yes! This humidity! UGHHHHH! I am spending more time being social… and that does make me feel good. It’s just that I need to cut back on the eating, if I am not running as much. Ha!

  7. I am also sad that I’m not going to make it to 100 miles. I was going to be close until my stomach started getting nasty. It would be nice to run 1,300 miles in 2013 or some jazz like that. But, in reality, I feel better when I reach that goal.

    And thanks for the shout out!

  8. Erin says:

    Hahahaha, I’m with your response to Kim’s post. Not.good.enough. No undies for life! Okay, maybe not all of life. But definitely exercise-life.

    I’m TRYING SO HARD to get better at making eye contact. My anxiety can cause me to stare past someone or even stare at the ground when talking to them. It’s not them, it’s totally me!

  9. Michelle says:

    always undies. LOL. Always.
    And healthy and happy are KEY. <3

  10. Meghan says:

    Being a teacher, I am huge on eye contact, because if I require it of my students, then I should practice what I preach:) And OMG, it never occurred to me that people DON’T wear undies while running. Umm.

  11. kelsey says:

    I’m obsessive about making eye contact…hence the reason why I send you beautiful closeups of my eyes even when we aren’t together….

  12. jan says:

    I don’t make a lot of eye contact partially because I’m shy-ish. I find myself watching people’s mouths when they talk, which I’m sure is annoying! LOL

    • kilax says:

      It’s not annoying… as long as you don’t mouth what they are saying as you watch. LOL. Someone I know does that, and it’s super distracting!

      • jan says:

        OH my gosh! LOL I don’t think I do that. I had a high school friend who’d stare at people’s foreheads. That was weird too.

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